The department of consumer affairs said it had filed a complaint with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.NEW DELHI: The Central government has accused Nestle of gross negligence, apathy and callousness in its class action suit that seeks compensation of Rs 639.957 crore under the Consumer Protection Act for selling "defective" Maggi noodles.

The department of consumer affairs said it had filed a complaint with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. "The department has filed this class action suit on behalf of the large number of consumers of Maggi in the country against Nestle India on grounds of unfair trade practices, sale of defective goods and sale of Maggi Oats Noodles to the public without product approval," it said in a statement. It said the "opponent company" was liable to pay Rs 284.55 crore and anotherRs 355.407 crore as "punitive damages on account of the gross negligence, apathy and callousness".

The government action follows the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s controversial decision to ban Maggi noodles as some tests showed high level of lead and no appropriate label declaration of monosodium glutamate, commonly known as ajinomoto. Some tests in India and abroad subsequently showed that the noodles were safe.

Nestle challenged the tests in the Bombay High Court and found support in some quarters of the government. Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had earlier told ET that the ban could deter foreign investors and lead to ‘Inspector Raj’.

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